Happy Hanukkah Cruise on the High Seas: Holiday Meals, Shows, and Candle Lighting

The "Crown Iris" ship of Mano Maritime departed from Haifa Port on the first night of Hanukkah for a special 4-night holiday cruise to Rhodes and Crete, carrying approximately 1,500 passengers. The ship will return to Haifa this Thursday and then set sail for a second holiday cruise, a weekend trip to Cyprus.

During the cruises, daily Hanukkah candle lighting ceremonies, shows, chef meals, and a festive atmosphere will take place on board. In honor of the holiday, the restaurants were decorated with Hanukkah themes. Cantor David Ullman was honored with lighting the first Hanukkah candle, joined by hundreds of "Crown Iris" passengers who sang the holiday hymns.

Lighting a fire is forbidden on the ship, but the Hanukkah candles are only lit in one menorah, placed in a secure location under the supervision of security personnel.

The "Crown Iris" features: a skilled and experienced crew of 650 staff dedicated to serving the passengers, 750 rooms, 11 decks, 6 elevators, 5 restaurants, swimming pools, 2 jacuzzi pools, a water slide, a cinema, a show auditorium, a fitness room, a basketball court, a spa, duty-free shops, bars and lounges, luxurious halls, and more.

During the cruises, passengers will enjoy international entertainment shows, acrobats, bouzouki music, a rock band, songs of Eretz Yisrael, social games, dancing, a DJ, sports activities, and more. The food is Kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Yitzhak Dayan, Chief Rabbi of the Thessaloniki community. There is a kosher supervisor on the ship and a synagogue.

The 2025 cruise season is ending soon, and the 2026 season will begin in March, with a selection of cruises to new destinations. Rooms for the new season can be booked on the "Mano Maritime" website.

(Photo credit: Courtesy of M.L.T.)